The truth about a complex built for veterans and the middle class and how it has evolved through the years to become one of the more interesting and controversial of New York stories.

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Management has two priorities: 1) Making sure money is made, hence upgrading and filling up apartments is their goal. "Amenities" are important in selling the place, though few residents use them. 2) If someone needs medical attention, Public Safety will be there, if alerted.

Quality of life issues are not that important, however. Things like the carpet rule or outsider dogs. These "rules" tend to be ignored, on purpose it seems. So you will see a lot that isn't taken care of properly, and complaints will be met with a creative excuse and a smile.

"Peace and quiet" must be a cruel joke, though this property is sold that way. There can be no peace and quiet as ALL apartments must be upgraded, which includes the installation of an AC unit below the window. Aside from the continual construction about the neighborhood, there is a new and noisy subway extension being built along East 14 st and the shut down of the L line. "Choosing" to live in NYC, now the newest mantra, is a fabrication when the talk is of ST and PCV, which was traditionally quiet, with no construction noise.

Though money was always important, it is now more important than ever. Money rules many things, as you will find.

At this point, 30 years into living here and seeing many things, I can state that Management and their reps are BS-ing us. I can't say that loudly enough: We are being BS-ed. I don't see any genuine change, though the "selling" of this place is intense. Few of the "rules" will be enforced, as Management doesn't want to lose customers or potential customers. Where personal integrity is a hallmark of an excellent management style, this integrity is not seen in enforcing some of the rules.

About those "club cars" we see going this way and that way, and outside of Stuy Town or Peter Cooper Village:

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Dismayed....

Just a note that I'm really dismayed after reading the latest comments on the TA Facebook. Seems that tenants who did NOT get a mid-lease notice informing them of a rent increase are now getting a rent increase nevertheless.... [We find out now that this is probably a huge clerical error. Boy, great accurate system in place.] Public Safety being tardy when they should have been somewhere in 10 minutes.... Bedbugs in more apartments.... A Roberts Settlement clause that prohibits a defendant from challenging tenant lawyers' fees....

At times this place seems like a nightmare, but it doesn't have to be so, if the landlord were concerned about his tenants, rather than the Almighty $. As for the lawyers, the Almighty $ rules there, too, doesn't it? And the people who just want to "live in health, comfort and dignity"* in a park-like community are fucked.

I just don't know how one can treat people this way and feel good afterward. How does one sleep restfully at night and wake up in the morning looking forward to the day? Re: These mid-lease increases. I'm not affected by them, but it pains me considerably to see other tenants handled in such a cold, bastard way. Absolutely despicable.

*Quote taken from a Stuy Town plaque removed from the Oval when the property was being prepped for its first sale.

That is terrible advice. CWC will throw these people out on their asses. Yes, they will evict 1000 people. Then they will sue for the back rent. Their credit will be destroyed due to an eviction and they will never find another place to live.

Rent Strike?? That's laughable. We can't even get people to join the TA or put those dumb yellow signs in their windows.Rent Strike My Arse.

Me, 4 more days and I am gone, they can stick their increase where the sun doesn't shine.My advice to those in my situation, get the hell out of Dodge.

Just a point of information, while withholding rent will undoubtedly make you feel better, you will place yourself in future jeopardy because this will leave a huge negative mark on both your credit report, and the landlord database that is used by all real estate companies to check tenant backgrounds. So after they get around to evicting you (be you the 1st or the 1000th case), you will find that you won't be able to rent an apartment anywhere else in the city.

Rather large price to pay for taking the moral high ground, don't you think ?

I would think that anyone facing such huge apartment rental figures would be seriously shopping for a condo somewhere in the city by now. It's got to be a better alternative than paying 5K a month in rent, even if you must give up the park like surroundings.

BTW, "rent strike" is wholly inappropriate and illegal in a case like this, and won't stand up in court. People signed these lease riders, and as unfair as they are, they're a legal binding document.

There's no way you're going to get 5000 apartments to join in a rent strike, since most of them are occupied by multiple 20-somethings, who are each paying their $800-$1200 a month rent, and are happier than pigs-in-shit to be living within stumbling distance of the EV. They couldn't give a shit. Don't you think the landlord knows what they're up against ?

This shoddy, tenth rate outfit couldn't run a hot dog stand. They are stupid, incompetent and have no place in running [into the ground] a property of this size and complexity. They are ten times worse than Tishman Speyer and they didn't know their assholes from their elbows. I think we should petition the AG to have them removed before they do even more damage.

Just because the Roberts tenants can't challenge the lawyers' fees doesn't mean they can't sue them for malpractice and malfeasance and file complaints against each and every one of them with the NYSBA.

A rent strike is generally only warranted if the landlord is withholding essential services (gas, electric, water). I hate CW as much as the next person, but not paying your rent is cutting off your nose to spite your face. The one thing they can go after is your credit, which impacts your ability to rent another apartment. Side note: has anyone actually purchased one of the $9 Oval Cafe sandwiches or has seen someone doing so?

Compass Rock Real Estate is a new company that was quickly tossed together before Andy Mac relieved Rose of their management duties. A subsidiery of CWCapital. Before acquiring Stuy Town and either Parkchester or Starret, I can't remember which one, the largest property in their new, limited portfolio of properties was an apartment complex with a mere few hundred units. Compass Rock has NO, ZERO, NADA experience running a property as large as STPCV and it shows. They only exist to save money CWCapital should be paying to a REAL management company. BTW Sean Sillivan said at the town hall all the elevators would be up and running by June. Hope no one is holding their breathe.

I read on the TA fb page that CW/Campus Crock are conducting the inspections of apartments to check for fire code violations because that is a requirement if a property is going to be up for sale. What about the risers in the stairwells? They have space around them that a rat could crawl through, let alone a flames and smoke situation rising up to kill people. These stairways are our ONLY means of escaping a fire or smoke situation. These fucking criminally negligent assholes should take of that situation first and foremost.

I agree. CALL 311. This was recently discussed on the TA page. 311 is very interested in hearing about the standpipes but the call has to be placed to start the process. If you have time to comment on STR, you have time to call 311.

I'm a long term not market rate resident and they DID check my apartment. It literally took less than 2 minutes from start to finish. They looked in each room and left. Personally, I am happy they are checking to make sure that people don't have illegal walls and I was happy to comply.

"I agree. CALL 311. This was recently discussed on the TA page. 311 is very interested in hearing about the standpipes but the call has to be placed to start the process. If you have time to comment on STR, you have time to call 311."

I looked this morning and saw that the job has now been done. I hope they do it in all instances without tenants having to call 311. (I didn't call 311, but I was going to if they hadn't taken care of it.)

@7:52AM I was just inspected this afternoon and I've lived here for 34 years. Took under 30 seconds. Really. So you are mistaken and NO, it's not for only FMRTs. Matter of fact, I know ONLY of long-time RS tenants who are being inspected and it's more than 20 of them, so far.

Just called 311 about the holes around the standpipes in my building. What a production. It took 28 minutes and 22 seconds minutes to file the complaint!!! And they don't know when an inspector will come to the building.

In my building, only unrenovated RS apartments were checked (but not all of them). The inspector also looked in two of my closets. My apartment was inspected some years ago too. I have another year on my lease, so this was not related to a lease renewal. Bastards.

Until There Is Silence No More

The Tenants Association and our councilman Dan Garodnick have mysteriously remained silent about a purported incident that occurred on July 12: the mugging by a group of individuals of someone right by Peter Cooper Village, along 20th Street.

The TA is basically done. Tenants can complain, but any action is negligible. The TA is effectively dead.

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"We'll be introducing a new process to identify registered dogs thus enabling Public Safety Officers to clearly approach offending dog owners. The registration will hang from the leash handle; clearly identifying the dog as registered.

"If the dog is not registered by May 1; a summons will be issued at the point of contact. If we learn the dog owner is not a resident, they will be escorted off the property."

Rick Hayduk, CEO and General Manager of PCVST. Letter to Barry Shapiro, February 2016.

STR here: I have been around since the inception of this dog policy and I have NEVER seen anyone escorted out of ST or PCV with their non-lanyard dog. But I have seen, many times, a dog owner from outside, and his/her dog, casually walking through ST or PCV.

THINKING of Renting in PCVST?

Read Yelp reviews to find out what it's like living here. Please note: All apartments are currently "rent-stabilized" but that doesn't prevent apartments from going up to 4K to 6K a month and even higher. How does this happen? Ask our politicians! Fact: Now less than half of the complex's apartments have the old rents and it's getting worse year by year--or better if you are the Real Estate Board of New York!

The Other Yelp Reviews

Yelp can be tricky and bounce reviews for a variety of reasons, like being a member and posting just one review. Very often, however, these reviews hold important truths about what's being reviewed. READ THESE TOO.

BICYCLES, MOPEDS, SCOOTERS, ETC.

Of course, "private property" but "public access" - whatever that means! And if a part of it is public access, do the rules of the city apply to our roads and sidewalks? Or does anything give because this complex is "private property"? Who comes here in case of a fire in one of our buildings? The Stuy Town Fire Brigade?

Hint: Look both ways if you are in the complex. Look on the ground, too!

61.03 Control of dogs and other animals to prevent nuisance. (a) A person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway, sidewalk, lawn, garden or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall [or], stairway or entranceway of a building abutting on a public place

Banned & Oversize Dog Breeds in Stuy Town

Looks like there is some difficulty in enforcing the ban on certain dog breeds allowed inside Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village. Somehow pitbulls and pitbull mixes have been registered in STPCV and are allowed to be freely walked about the grounds! Registered dogs in the complex are max 50 pounds. Total, if there is more than one! More than two, it's illegal. It's going to get worse, and, face it, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village will never be like it once was.

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Read it and Weep

Current Value of ST/PCV

Was 5.4 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer bought the place.Became 1.7 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer left, with their tail between their legs. Of course, tenants now have to make up the loss.

Ex-landlord

Rob Speyer

1947 Stuy Town Plaque Honoring Met Life Chairman F.H. Ecker (Removed in 2002 and never seen again)

"... who with the vision of experience and the energy of youth conceived and brought into being this project, and others like it, that families of moderate means might live in health, comfort and dignity in park-like communities and that a pattern might be set of private enterprise productively devoted to public service."

I am writing on behalf of everyone at Tishman Speyer to express how honored we are to become part of your outstanding community. We are a business with deep roots in New York, a true love of our city and a great respect for the neighborhoods that make it special. We are committed to maintaining the unique character and environment that have made Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town such a wonderful place to live for so long. We look forward to providing you an extraordinary level of service and attentiveness that will be the source of pride and satisfaction for the entire community.

Neighborhood Recommendations

New to Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village? Here are some basic recommendations.

Best supermarket: Associated on 14th St. between 1st Ave. and Ave A. The cheapest prices, fantastic weekly sales, very affordable lunches; solid, responsive management, but earthy. Some of the young female cashiers have attitude to spare, though. May be too far for Peter Cooper residents.

Best gym: Don't waste your money on the Oval Fitness Gym. Instead go to the earthy but real Asser Levy Recreational Center, right above 23rd St on Asser Levy Place (near the FDR Drive). $75 for a year's membership; seniors are almost free. Contains seasonal indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ping-pong table, two pool tables. Called by some rich people who wouldn't get caught going there "the prison gym," and you know why.

A Stuy Town favorite is Lenz's on 20 St. between the 20 St. Loop. The way New York used to be. Be careful of unwanted "pepper" in your food, however. Lenz's got a B grade rating and was temporarily closed down due to an order from the Health Department. Bruno's on First Avenue is more upscale, with a greater selection of food items (higher-priced, too), but was closed down temporarily by the Health Department. Stuy Town's own cafe was closed, too! And not because of all the dogs that hover and piss outside.

Gracefully has two locations, but we prefer for its size the one on 1st Ave. Prices are high and reflect the new tenants that are currently renting Stuy Town and Peter Cooper apartments. ("Do you have a credit card?") We like Gracefully's lunch specials, which are somewhat affordable.

I priced the CVS on 1st Ave near 14st. The non-aerosol hairspray was 20 cents above CVS' own website price, and one of the highest in NY. (Yes, I have hair.) You can save at least a dollar or more buying at another place. So beware. Look around for a better deal on all your items.

I love warm Quaker Oats in the morning. Gristedes is not the place to get it, nor is Associated, though their price is less. Look around!

Macular Degeneration Support Group

If you are currently diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary is offering a support group for you. Conveniently located next to the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town apartment complex, our group offers the opportunity to share stories with other members, listen to expert guest speakers, and learn coping strategies to reduce stress. Our group runs on the first Wednesday of every month and we would enjoy seeing you there.
Please contact Baptiste Nicolas, Social Work Assistant at 212-979-4105 for further information and to see if this group is right for you!